Lakers rally in the sixth to win 7-6 over Jefferson City

Trailing 6-3 after six innings, the Lakers needed hits from their batters in the top of the seventh inning to stay alive in the district tournament. The Lakers lineup at the plate didn't let them down, scoring four runs in their last inning to take the lead, 7-6, thanks to senior Jake Voorhees' two-run double.

Trailing 6-3 after six innings, the Lakers needed hits from their batters in the top of the seventh inning to stay alive in the district tournament.

The Lakers lineup at the plate didn't let them down, scoring four runs in their last inning to take the lead, 7-6, thanks to senior Jake Voorhees' two-run double.

All the Lakers had to do was hold the Jays from scoring and get three outs. Senior Cory Simpson pitched a strikeout with the first batter up, and with a great play by Tristan Starkey, the Lakers threw out a runner at first.

The crowd and the Camdenton players on the bench held their breath as Simpson pitched to the next batter.

They released the air in the form of loud cheers and whooping as Simpson struck out the last batter for the win over the Jays.

"It was a big win, a thrilling way to come back," Coach Matt Moulder said. "I was telling Voorhees before he was at bat that there was no one I would rather have up there. He stepped up and got that big hit for us that we needed. Simpson being able to to extend and throw three innings for us was huge, too. We just found a way to get it done."

The Lakers took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, thanks to a home run by Tyler Cunningham, but things looked to go the other way from then on, as Jefferson City scored five runs in the bottom of the first.

Both teams were able to hit, but the defensive play by both teams kept each other in check for the next few innings.

In the fourth, Cory Simpson was able to tag up after Jordan Webster hit deep to centerfield, pulling the Lakers within two runs, but in the next inning, the Jays scored a run, recovering their three-run lead.

That run proved to be the last one for the Jays, and after a scoreless sixth inning, the Lakers hit their stride, scoring four runs on hits. Bryan Hoffman led it all off with a single, followed by Jake Decker with a double, putting runners on second and third with no outs.

After a walk, Simpson would hit a two-run double to left, landing fair by inches.

With a score of 6-5, Jake Voorhees was up next.

"Mr. Clutch", as Coach Moulder referred to him, came in just when the team needed him, floating a single to centerfield, giving the Lakers another two runs to take the lead for the first time since the first inning.

The team celebrated the runs at home plate, but were back to business as the third out was made, playing defense for the final half of the game. Two strikeouts from Simpson and a throw-out at first, and the Lakers had their victory.

Page 2 of 2 - The team celebrated once again, but was quickly reminded by Moulder that more games were coming.

"We try to to keep competing," Moulder said. "We just keep fighting and grinding. Everybody stepped up and found a way to contribute. We just have to keep doing the little things, then we give ourselves a chance. We have to compete for every inning and keep getting better."

The team returns to Vivion Field on Monday to take on the Helias Crusaders at 6:30 p.m. A win there would advance the Lakers to the district championship, to face off against either Hickman or Rock Bridge.